COLUMBIA, Tenn.— Doug Williamson was elected chairman of the Maury Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees at the group’s meeting on January 15.

The new chairman has served on the medical center’s board since 2004 and is replacing Waymon L. Hickman who retired as board chairman, but was elected to serve on the medical center’s advisory board. In addition, Dr. Bob Thompson was elected vice chair of the board of trustees and Eric Cox and Ron Hanson were elected to serve another term on the advisory board.

“Maury Regional Medical Center will benefit greatly from Doug’s expertise and wisdom,” said CEO Robert Otwell. “He has been a valuable member of our board for four years and has served in key leadership roles. I look forward to our continued work together.”

During Williamson’s tenure on the board, he has chaired the Planning and Facility Committee and the Professional Contracts Committee. In addition, he has served as a member of the Joint Conference Committee, Physician Recruitment Committee, and the Finance and Budget Committee.

Williamson is the Maury County Farm Bureau agency manager and has been a Columbia resident for more than 23 years. The Giles County native received an associate’s degree from Martin Methodist College in Pulaski, followed by and bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. After three years as a vocational-agriculture teacher, he began his career as an insurance agent in 1972 with Tennessee Farmers Insurance Companies. Williamson served first as a special agent in Lincoln County, general agent in Grundy County and since 1985 the agency manager at the Maury County Farm Bureau.

Active in chamber activities, Williamson was president of the newly organized Grundy County Chamber in 1982. In Maury County he has served on the chamber board and as chairman of the Education Council, the Public Affairs Council, the Agribusiness Committee and as board chairman in 1998.

Williamson is a member of the Columbia Kiwanis Club and the Columbia Association of Life Underwriters of which he served as president in 1994-95. He and his wife, Pam, are members of the FirstUnitedMethodistChurch, where he serves as a trustee. Mrs. Williamson is a member and past president of the Maury Regional Medical Center Auxiliary.